On Tuesday the 12th, two posts riddled with ‘Big Fat U*U’ in them. Nineteen, to be exact.

But, curiously, on Wednesday the 13th, three posts with no recurrence of that – but plenty of lashing out and vague attacks.

You would think that someone with a difference of opinion over how an organization is run would respond to the retirement of its chief administrator with an optimistic note on the possibility of positive change. No, Robin Edgar has to take more pot shots at Kay Montgomery.

And you would think that, if you talk repeatedly about ‘pedophiles and rapists’ in an organization, you would actually name some, as Robin Edgar had promised to do in his ‘New Year’s resolutions.’ Again, no such luck. Robin Edgar prefers instead to be provocative and sensationalistic – or, should we say, ‘deliberately rude and offensive’?

Robin Edgar keeps demanding that the UUA listen to him. Tell me, Mister Edgar, when you repeatedly describe them with terms like ‘douchebaggery,’ among other insults and perseverations, how do you expect them to take you seriously?

If this latest spate of manic attacks demonstrates anything, it is that Robin Edgar has no interest whatsoever in reconciliation or justice – only in lashing out and drawing attention to himself.

Once again, Robin Edgar has made another list of resolutions on his ‘Emerson Avenger’ blog, all related to his obsessive need to try to bring down Unitarian Universalism for failing to stroke his ego.

The first two are to be expected; he claims that he will ‘hold accountable’ the UUA and their Canadian law firm for their civil actions against his continual harassment and defamation. How? Golly, could we see yet more picketing and rage-filled screeds? After all, the only time he took legal action, with the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal, his complaint was dismissed for lack of merit. Still, we shouldn’t be surprised if he attempts some sort of counter-suit.

But the most outrageous on his list of resolutions is as follows:

Blog about at least two other well documented cases of Unitarian Universalist clergy or U*U Religious Educators who have actually been charged with, and convicted of, engaging in the despicable crime known as pedophilia.

We have seen this before, with his relentlessly repeating rants about former UU minister Mack Mitchell. The man was turned in by members of his own congregation, suspended from ministry during legal proceedings, and formally stripped of his ministerial credentials once convicted. But no, this isn’t good enough for Robin Edgar. Apparently he wants ‘U*U justice’ to be impossibly swift and sure. Would it help, Mister Edgar, if the Ministerial Fellowship Committee traveled back in time to undo everything? Considering his obsessive desire to hold grudges, we wouldn’t be surprised if even that was not good enough for him!

For all we know, the cases he’s talking about could involve people reported to the UUA by active UUs, and acted upon promptly and properly by both UU officials and law enforcement. It could also be that these are cases from long before the UUA had learned its lesson and implemented better policies for dealing with issues of professional misconduct, and for which the UUA has apologised and made restitution.

But, as we have seen before, nothing the UUA or any UU minister or leader could ever do will ever satisfy him. His self-defeating efforts are but sad attempts to bring down an organization and a movement devoted to compassion and forgiveness – something which, from what we can tell of his statements and behaviour, he seems very sorely lacking. It is a shame that a man with such energy must waste so much of it lashing out at a religious community instead of moving on and trying to build something better. Remember, also, this is a man who has refused to promise to remain non-violent in his so-called quest for ‘justice’. All we can do, sad to say, is remain vigilant and hopeful that he will not escalate into something much worse.

So far, Robin Edgar has done scant little aside from attack, insult, harass and slander. He’s not just annoyingly repetitive and unimaginative, he’s so overwhelmingly negative that he constantly begs the question … Just what does this man want?!?

(And we’re not sure even he knows the answer to that question.)

Now we do not agree with every Unitarian Universalist blogger out there, or with everything that the UUA does or stands up for, but we can certainly applaud when somebody takes the time to go beyond mere criticism and propose a constructive alternative.

One such blogger, having noted some serious shortcomings in the way the UUA handles complaints from individuals, proposed establishing an ombudspersonto field such complaints. At the very least, this blogger suggests, this UU ombudsperson could at least direct people with complaints to the right office or individual.

Tell us, Robin Edgar, would you approve of this idea? Since you can’t come up with an idea like this on your own, the least you can do is support this proposal.

Then again, Mister Edgar has expressed so much disdain for this particular blogger, it’s unlikely he’ll have anything positive to say about it.

Come to think of it, we can’t recall when Robin Edgar has had anything positive or constructive to say at all.

So, what do you say, Robin? Could you at least try to move beyond carping and lashing out, and give a concrete constructive proposal?

Don’t ever play cards with Robin Edgar. Because, if he plays the same way he responds to Unitarian Universalists, then he’s bound to rig the deck in his favour. Always.

If you’re a UU minister, and you post something on your blog which he does not like, then he attacks you. He’ll even file a ‘formal complaint of clergy misconduct’ (albeit to the wrong people) against you, and demand a response.

If he does not get a response to his misplaced ‘formal complaint’, then he will continually hound and harass the President of the UUA for one (even though the President’s office is not where such complaints are supposed to be delivered)

Well, let us say that you now remove the offending post, for whatever reason. Still not good enough. Now you are guilty of ‘memory-holing,’ because in Robin Edgar’s bizarre view of reality, you can never ever make amends for any mistake, and you must be forced to live with your mistakes forever and ever and ever.

Aside from becoming more maniacal in his postings, Robin Edgar has begun to focus (or fixate) on yet another issue: Unitarian Universalists and sex.

Freud would have a field day with this man.

Robin Edgar has become more explicit, almost to the point of vulgarity, in trying to use sex as yet another means of discrediting UUs. Of course, he picks what will fit his biased obsession of ‘UUs bad’, even to the point of highlighting outdated and uncorroborated material.

Basically, he is utilising the same methods he had before, only on a more sensitive topic. Not to mention failing, once again, to propose any positive solutions (compared to many UU bloggers who have made specific suggestions for dealing with the problems of the past).

Still, it should surprise nobody that Robin Edgar is now doing this. He has made tasteless sexual allusions before, not to mention his obsessive puns around anuses, and his repetitive use of ‘kick in the balls’. What’s unusual is his shifting from juvenile toilet humour to puritanical judgments about sex.

Then again, it is hard to predict what this disturbed man will do next…

Once again, Robin Edgar has nothing new to report or discuss. So once again, he rehashes the same old tired complaints and accusations. ‘I don’t like how these people treat me! Forget how I treat them – they should always be extra-super-nice to meeeee! And if they don’t, I’m gonna tell on them!!!’

Poor baby…

His latest rant is to single out three Unitarian Universalist churches for ‘inhuman’ treatment of others. Of course, he doesn’t specify what exactly these churches did; in the case of two of them, we have to wonder if he has even visisted them. (Not that we are encouraging him to do so, considering what a ‘visit’ from Robin Edgar usually means!) Let us take a closer look, shall we?

Unitarian Church of Montreal – The central target for Robin Edgar’s endless rage. Their crime? They would not kowtow to his increasing demands, and they refused to put up with his childish, outrageous behaviour. They were, in fact quite patient with him, having suspended his membership twice before finally terminating his association with the church. Not to mention enduring his endless picketing and lashing out.

First Parish in Norwell – The only reason we can think that this church is a target is that its minister, Reverend Victoria Weinstein, has been in Robin Edgar’s crosshairs for years now, searching for even the flimsiest excuse to lash out against her yet again. So why attack the congregation? Apparently, it’s based on a quote from Reverend Weinstein, supposedly describing some of her parishioners. Forget that it’s taken completely out of context. After all, the only ‘truth’ Robin Edgar is concerned about is his own narcissistic view that ‘U*Us are all bad bad bad because they won’t agree a hundred percent with me me me!‘

First Parish Church in Northborough – Now this is a strange one, indeed. Again, the only ‘inhuman’ activity related here are the crimes of Reverend Mack Mitchell, for which he is currently serving a prison sentence. But what of the church itself? Considering that his own parishioners turned him over to the authorities, isn’t that reason to commend them rather than condemn? Oh, not for Robin Edgar, who so loves the idea of guilt by association to ‘prove’ his tired old assertion that ‘U*Us are bad bad bad!‘

It is becoming clear that the only purpose for Robin Edgar’s antics is to make UUs look bad, all out of a disturbed ‘need’ for vindication and vengeance. As Dr. Phil McGraw would say, ‘How’s that workin’ for ya?’ Doesn’t seem to be. He’s gotten nowhere with persuading anybody in the UU movement to follow him, and his ideas for interfaith celebration have since petered out.

As we’ve pointed out before, doing the same thing over and over, with nothing to show for it, cannot be healthy. You need professional help, Mister Edgar – and we don’t mean a public relations firm. You need to see a qualified psychiatrist– not somebody with a degree who will go along with what you think you want. Please get the help you need, and get it now!

Just more of the same angry rants from Robin Edgar. More of his attempting to show how he is always right and ‘Big Fat U*U Ass Hats’ are always wrong.

Of course, he does not show how we, or any other UUs who question or disagree with him, are actually WRONG. He even admits that he has no evidence that a UU blogger labeled all Republicans as mean people … and yet, he continues to say the same things, over and over, accusing anybody who dares to challenge his view of reality as ‘outrageously hypocritical,’ while wilfully ignoring his own hypocrisy of criticising others of engaging in the very behaviour of which he himself is guilty.

We have heard this all before, Mister Edgar, for years now. Are you even capable of admitting to being wrong or mistaken about anything? You keep demanding apologies from so many UUs. Are you even capable of apologising for the hurt that you have caused, and continue to cause? Or is your state of mind so warped that you cannot ever see it, and cannot even forgive?

Robin Edgar must have some difficulty reading. Either that, or he can’t think beyond a rigid and immature ‘black-and-white’ mentality. This is evident in his constantly accusing UU minister and blogger Cynthia Cain of ‘demonizing and marginalizing Republicans.’ As he asserts in his latest blog post:

Rev. Cynthia P. Cain never said all mean people are Republicans; what she said was all Republicans were mean people…

Mister Edgar, she did not even say that. She called out Republican Party leaders of mean-spirited and uncivil rhetoric. Show us, please, where she said that all Republicans are mean people.

No surprise, however, that Robin Edgar stoops to such slander. He can only think in the extremes of idealization and devaluation (and more of the latter than the former). Say something he doesn’t like, and he resorts to hyperbole and sweeping generalization to devalue and denigrate you. Especially when you are an ordained UU minister.

Nor will it help if, after making a questionable blog post, you decide to remove it. No, then he accuses you of the manufactured transgression of ‘memory-holing,’ and treats you exactly the same as if you had left the blog post up – obsessively repeating the same accusations, insults, attacks and denigrations over and over and over and over and over again and again and again and again and again.

Mister Edgar, it doesn’t matter if you ‘paraphrase’ Horace Greeley. Defamation is still defamation. Distorting the facts goes against the UU principle of a free and responsible search for meaning and truth which you so claim to uphold. More’s the pity that you refuse to see how unhealthy, counterproductive and dysfunctional your fixations, perseverations and angry rants really are. We again implore you to seek professional help, as so many have recommended.

Robin Edgar has repeatedly put himself up as the judge of all Unitarian Universalist conduct, following such an extreme ‘counsel of perfection’ that nobody could possible live up to it. Any deviation from his interpretation, and he goes on the warpath to denounce and denigrate them, and in the process declares that UUs are hypocritical.

What about Robin Edgar himself? How well does he live up to these principles which he demands that everybody else live up to in such an absolute degree?

The inherent worth and dignity of every person. Robin Edgar routinely insults people. He does not merely say he disagrees with them, but calls them ‘stupid’, ‘morons’, ‘asshats’ and other derogatory terms. He even brags that he’s deliberately rude and offensive, and uses outlandish excuses to rationalize such behaviour.

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations. Robin Edgar has probably set a record for the number of misconduct complaints filed against UU ministers, insisting that the fact that he has declared their actions wrong is sufficient grounds for chastising and punishing them. They include his claim that a minister has ‘demonized and marginalized ALL Republicans’ because she expressed dismay at the language used by some GOP leaders. And if the UUA will not follow through on his complaints? Well, then they are guilty of complicity and must be similarly punished! Apparently Mister Edgar believes he is to be the sole arbiter of justice, at least in UU matters.

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. We wonder how picketing churches and meetings, and harassing those who enter them, encourages spiritual growth. Not to mention questioning the Unitarian Church of Montreal’s right to provide free or reduced admission to university students at their events.

A free and responsible search for meaning and truth. Robin Edgar has been playing fast and loose with the truth for years now, often using distortion and hyperbole to make his case. We have already cited how he accuses UUs of a coverup which never happened. Considering how he takes such an extreme approach (his views are beyond question, but woe unto anybody who dares to question him or offer contrary views) just how ‘free and responsible’ is that?

The right of conscience and the use of democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. Robin Edgar does not believe that UU ministers have the right to express opinions which he finds objectionable (see above under second Principle). Nor does he respect the right of a congregation’s membership to remove a disruptive individual from their ranks – at least when that individual is him. So, at best, he believes in a selective application of this principle, where he selects when and how it will be applied.

We’ll leave it there for now, the point being clear. Robin Edgar demands perfection from others, then plays fast and loose when it comes to how he lives by them. If he wants to deal with ‘injustices, abuses and hypocrisy,’ then he clearly needs to start with himself.

‘Doesn’t this guy have anything better to do?’ We keep hearing this question with regard to Robin Edgar, repeated almost as often as his own perseverations. That got us thinking of things this man could do instead of wasting so much time and energy pointlessly attacking Unitarian Universalists, from picketing over and over again, to lodging the same tired complaints on his blog (and, unfortunately, the comment pages of other blogs).

So, in the spirit of David Letterman, here are our Top Ten suggestions for alternatives to Robin Edgar’s ridiculous anti-UU antics.

10) Start his own religion. If he is so convinced he could do a better job than the current (or, for that matter, any) leadership of the UUA, then why not form his own church in Montreal, and help others start similar communities elsewhere. Since this whole thing apparently started over his revelation, then why not make it the centrepiece of a new spiritual movement?

9) Get a (second?) job. It’s not clear whether Robin Edgar is gainfully employed. If not, then he could at least try to get some full-time employment. If so, then why not channel all of that energy into a second job?

8) Take a writing course. God only knows his hackneyed rants show a need!

7) Start dating. None of his writings indicate he has a significant other. Well, how could he, what with spending all of his time typing rants on his blog, making new picket signs, picketing the Montreal church, travelling to picket other UU churches and meetings? Who knows what might happen if he made room in his life for somebody else?

6) Volunteer.There are so many people in need of care and assistance: elderly, disabled, children from disadvantaged single parent homes. So why not put all that energy and emotion into helping them, instead of tearing others down in a vain attempt to aggrandise himself?

5) Join a real protest movement. There are also worthy causes whose leaders would welcome somebody willing to stand hours at a time holding a sign, or make video records of newsworthy events.

4) Go to the gym. If Robin Edgar can lug video equipment and signs all over Montreal, he could improve his health by lifting weights and running on a treadmill.

3) Go to the library. Or, he could pick up some books, and fill his mind with something more constructive than his obsessive fixations.

2) Meditate. These are not the actions of somebody who has found peace. What would happen if he managed to do so?

And the number one suggestion, not only from us but from so many who have read his online tirades or witnessed his antics on the street…